Waiting on Wednesday: Small Spaces by Katherine Arden

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme created by Breaking the Spine where each week we discuss upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Small Spaces by Katherine Arden

When eleven-year-old Ollie lost her mother in a plane crash, she sought solace in her books. So when she stumbles upon a distraught woman standing on the banks of the river intent on throwing a book into the water, Ollie stops her, steals the book and rides away on her bike. Upon reading, Ollie discovers a chilling ghost story about a girl, Elizabeth Morrison, who is being chased through cornfields filled with scarecrows by two brothers with deadly intent. When she finds the graves of Elizabeth Morrison and her tormentors, Jonathan and Caleb, on a farm during a school trip, on a day already full of odd occurrences, Ollie starts to think this book is more than just a book.

On the ride home, the school bus breaks down along the side of the road and none of the kids or their teacher can get service on their cell phones to call for help. And then Ollie’s digital wristwatch starts a mysterious countdown, with the word RUN spelled out on the face. She and two unlikely new friends are the only ones to heed its warning. As night begins to fall, they head out into the woods, bracketed by fearsome scarecrows. The bus driver gives them a word of advice. In order to survive whatever is coming, they’ll need to keep to small spaces.

Middle Grade has been so fantastic lately, and SPOOKY MG?????? Omg, this book sounds so amazing. You have a creepy but kind of an aodrable cover, Arden who I have heard has fantastic writing, and a premise that sounds SO EPIC. Scarecrows are always not pleasing, but I’ll be intrigued to see just how Not Pleasing they get. This will be a perfect Halloween read, and I mean, it’s giving me major Nightmare Before Christmas vibes. I’m ready I’m ready I’m ready I’m ready I’m ready I’m ready I’m ready I’m ready.

What do you think? Is this on your book TBR as well? What books are you waiting for this week? Let’s discuss in the comments below!